Wire clamp



June 2, 1931. J. M; DAVIDSON WIRE CLAMP Filed Sept. 19, 1928 10 mitted to heavy strains.

Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN M. DAVIDSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA WIRE CLAMP Application filed September 19, 1928.

This invention relates to an improved clamping device and a method of making the same, and is illustrated herein as embodied in a device suitable for use in securing guy 5 wires," or other tension members, to structural units, such, for example, as beams, posts, girders, etc. An important use to which clamps of this character may be put is in connection with metal fence posts that are sub- Snow fence posts,

for instance, are often employed in vicinities where high winds and heavy snows commonly prevail, and during use, high bending strains are imparted to the post; the maximum strain occurring adjacent to the ground line of the postwherever the post is dependent for its stability upon being driven to a suitable depth in the earth. An unbrace'd post must accordingly be very strong satisfactorily to withstand the bending strain, and such strength is generally acquired by the provision of a heavier, and consequently a more expensive, post.

It will be appreciated, however, that a light, inexpensive type of post may be employed if the high bending strains are eliminated by suitably bracing, as for example, by means of sloping guy wires extending from a point near the top of the post. Heretofore, however, the use of such tension members has generally been subject to several disadvantages: if the guy wire is secured directly to the post, by lapping or twisting, it is highly apt to slip downwardly, thereby becoming ineffective, or, if the guy wire is secured indirectly to the post by means of a rivet, or some other permanent fastening, the connecting of the wire becomes an expensive matter, and it cannot be disconnected withi out being destroyed.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to have the tension members secured to the posts in a manner that will-permit of ready and facile disconnection and will also prevent slippage of a the members relatively to the posts, the present invention contemplates the provision of a clamp, or connector, for guy wires which satisfies the foregoing requirements and is of a simple and inexpensive design.

50 An important feature of' the invention Serial No. 307,020.

which aims towards the accomplishment of the recited object, consists in providing a clamp of the character described with a plurality of gripping members so constructed and arranged that they may be sprung apart to permit the clamp to be moved into a straddling or encircling position relatively to the post, and thereafter allowed to spring back to their normal position to prevent accidental displacement of the clamp from the post. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this feature is carried out by connecting the gripping members with one another through a resilient medium where by the members upon being displaced from their normal positions have a tendency to reassume such positions upon being allowed free movement. a

It will be understood that the provision of the resiliently connected gripping means tends to prevent slipping of the clamp relatively to the post, but inasmuch as the prevention of such slippage is an extremely important consideration, the invention has for another feature, the introduction into a clamp of this character of additional means adapted to prevent slipping. In the illustrated embodiment, this feature is accom plished by mounting on the post inexpensive means adapted to interengage with parts formed on the clamp, whereby, when the clamp is properly attached to the post any tendency whatsoever on the part of the clamp to move relatively to the post will be successively resisted.

It has heretofore been pointed out that an important aspect of the invention consists in constructing the clamp in an inexpensive and simple manner, and with this in View, still an additional feature consists in forming the clamp of a single piece of flexible material which is bent into an approximate final shape during manufacture, and is thereafter capable of being properly attached to a post and bent into final shape by an inexperienced person having received simple directions. In another aspect, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel method of forming a clamp which comprises the several steps of bending the piece of material into the desired final shape. 7

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a readin of the following specification in the light 0 the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing an upright post conveniently braced by means of guy wires;

Figures 2 and 3 are plan views of a guy wire clamp prior and subsequently to being mounted on a certain type of post;

Figures and 5 represent views of a clamp similar to that shown in Figures 2 and 3 mounted on a different type of post;

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of guy wire clamp prior and subsequently to being mounted upon a post of a certain type; and

Figures 8 and 9 show a clamp of the type disclosed in Figures 6 and 7, mounted for use upon a post of a different type.

In the drawings, there are shown fence posts of different kinds having guy wire clamps of dili erent types associated therewith, but it will, however, be appreciated that the exact type of post employed is not material to the invention, and also, that the guy wire clamp may be altered to accommodate posts of various shapes, and to meet various conditions without departing in the slightest from the true scope of the invention. Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated, the manner in which a post 10 may be braced from opposite sides by means of guy wires 12 and 14- extending from the top of the post downwardly and outwardly to anchor posts 16 and 18, which are illustrated herein as being of the same construction as the main post 10, but considerably shorter than the latter post. 7

It has heretofore been pointed out that it is extremely difficult, and, practically speaking, almost impossible to secure the guy wires 12 and 1% directly to a smooth metal post in such a manner that all likelihood of the wires becoming loose by slipping on the post 10 is eliminated. To the end of overcoming this disadvantage, it is proposed to equip the post 10 and the anchor posts 16 and 18 with clamps of the character illustrated in the remaining figures. These clamps are adapted tobe secured directly to the main iost and the anchor posts before the guy wires are extended between the posts and to the end of preventing slippage between the clam as and the posts, the latter members are provided with irregular surfaces 20, 22 and 24, illustrated in the form of corrugated strips secured to the posts for interengaging with portions of the clamps.

Turning now to that form of clamp illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the clamp comprises a portion 26 connecting together a plurality of gripping members 28 and 30 that are atranged to extend parallelto one another. In placing the clamp upon a post, it is necessary to spring the gripping members 28 and 30 apart, and, to afford the necessary resiliency to efiect this, the connecting portion 26 of the clamp is formed with an intermediate looped part 32.

Several provisions are afiorded to insure proper gripping action taking place between the clamp and the post, an important one of these consisting in forming recesses 34 and 36 at the point of junction between the connecting portion 26 and the gripping members 28 and 30. Thus, when the clamp is placed in a position to straddle the post 11, the gripping members 28 and 30 are sprung apart and the clamp is then forced over the projecting side edges of the post until the edges pass over and behind the shoulders of the recesses 34 and 36 and are rippingly held by means of pressure exerted by the walls of the recesses. It will be observed that the ends of the gripping members 28 and 30, dis posed oppositely to the connecting portion 26, are turned inwardly to provide annular members 38 and 40 which, when the clamp has been placed instraddling position upon the post in the manner described, are brought into vertical alignment with one another as shown in Figure 3, in order to serve as an anchora e for the guy wire 14 whereby the wire prevents separation of the gripping members 28 and 30. Now with the clamp affixed to the post in this manner, it may be drawn tightly onto the support to guard a ainst accidental displacement relatively to the post by twisting the loop portion 32 whereupon the neck of the loop assumes the condition illustrated in Figure 3 and the post 11 is closely surrounded and engaged by the clamp. t will be appreciated, of course, that the loop portion 32 may serve as an anchorage for the guy wire 12 when the clamp isemployed in connection with a post that is braced in two directions.

In Figures 2 and 3, the clamp has been shown as mounted upon a metal post that is U-shaped in cross-section and in Figures 4: and 5, a clamp'of the same type has been illustrated for use in connection with a metal post that is T-shaped in cross-section. Inasmuch as the clamps illustrated in the two series of figures are similar in design and construction, no added description of the clamp set forth in Figures 4: and 5 will be given herewith, and like parts in those figures are designated by reference characters that have been used to indicate similar parts in Figures 2 and 3.

Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, disclose a modified form of clamp having many portions similar to the portionsof the clamps disclosed in the preceding figures; in fact the reference numerals which have been employed in Figures llU 2' to 5 inclusive, to indicate the connecting portion, the loop, and the recesses, are again employed to indicate similar portions in the clamps shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, and new reference characters are employed only in connection with the gripping members, which in these latter figures are indicated by reference numerals 42 and 44, and comprise elongated parallel members having curved portions 46 and 48 joining the gripping members with extensions 50 and 52. In the use of devices of the characters set forth in Figures 6 to 9, the gripping members 42 and 4a are sprung apart in the customary manner and the clamp is moved into a position to straddle the post 11 whereupon the extensions 50 and 52 are converged and finally twisted, the curved portions 46 and 48 serving as interengaging parts to facilitate the proper twis ing of the extensions.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described herein with particular reference to fence posts, it is to be clearly understood that the invention contemplates employment in connection with supports and posts of all characters, and in various analogous uses which will, from time to time, appear to those who are skilled in the art of construction. Likewise, it is to be appreciated that other modified forms of the invention besides those herein illustrated may be provided without departing from the nature and scope of the invention as pointed out in the appending claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An integral wire anchoring clamp of the character described comprising, in combination, a connecting portion formed of resilient material, and a plurality of integral gripping members extending outwardly from opposite ends of the connecting portion, in substantially parallel relation with one another, and adapted by means of the resilient portion to be sprung apart in order to straddle a support, said gripping members being provided with co-operating wire engaging terminal portions.

2. A clamp of the character described comprising, in combination, a connecting portion being so formed as to afiord resiliency, a plurality of gripping members extending from the opposite ends of the connecting portion and adapted to straddle a support, said members being provided with recesses, the walls of which are adapted to apply gripping pressure to the support, and a plurality of annular terminal portions carried by the gripping members and adapted to be placed in regist-ration with one another when the clamp is aflixed to the support.

3. A wire anchoring clamp of the character described comprising, in combination, a connecting portion having a loop formed intermediately between its ends to provide resiliency, and a plurality of gripping members extending outwardly from the connecting portion and adapted to straddle a support, said members being provided with specially formed cooperating end portions adapted to form the anchorage for the wire.

4. A clamp of the character described comprising, in combination, a connecting portion having a loop formed intermediately between its ends to provide resiliency, and a plurality of gripping members extending outwardly from the connecting portion and adapted to "straddle a support, said members being pro- -members being provided with recesses, the

walls of which are adapted to apply gripping pressure to thesuppprt, and a plurality of annular terminal portions carried by the gripping members, and adapted to be placed in registration with one another when the clamp is aflixed to the support.

Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this 13th day of Sept, 1928. 7 JOHN M. DAVIDSON. 

